Throughout Saskatchewan, honey production had increased by over 2 million pounds due to increased beekeepers. The province's honey production went from 16.5 million pounds in 2014, to 18.8 million pounds in the past year. This results in nearly a 14% jump from year-to-year. Despite the lower yields, the province's honey industry has continued to thrive.
Dani Glennie, with the Saskatchewan Beekeepers Association, says they are going to keep moving forward.
"Crops were down a little bit this year in comparison to the five year average," she said. "However, this year going forward it is hard to tell because you never know what Mother Nature is going to do."
Glennie also said the Saskatchewan industry is continuing to grow with more beekeepers and technologies.
"We are moving forward with new innovations and technologies that are helping push our industry ahead," she added. "And with new blood in it, there will be someone to take over once the others start retiring."
The Saskatchewan Beekeepers Association is working with producers, specifically canola producers, to help the crops and bees have a balanced living environment. This includes programs that allow producers to monitor where bees are in order to avoid contaminating them with herbicide. The association also has a new program that has developed in the last three years with the government for mortality insurance. If a honey producer has a bad year, there are ways for the association and the government to help them out.
Source : Discoverestevan